Expert: Tom Schott - 2/25/2009

Question
Can you explain WHIP in the world of baseball and how it is calculated?  Thanks!

Answer
Elizabeth,

The WHIP (walks & hits per inning pitched) is a measure of pitching effectiveness. It is an average that reveals how often a pitcher allows base runners by allowing them on base either by a base on balls or a hit. It tracks with the pitcher's ERA. The higher a pitcher's WHIP, the higher his ERA as a general rule.

Here's the formula: walks + base hits allowed / innings pitched

The WHIP is expressed as number carried out to three decimal places. Anything below 1.000 is extraordinarily good. The WHIP for the all of major league pitching last season was 1.391. (Both leagues had exactly the same WHIP.) So you could figure how well a pitcher did last year using that number as a benchmark.